Asyst and DuPont Photomasks
Help Lead Small-Cap Advance

NEW YORK -- Small-capitalization stocks staged a modest late-session advance to outperform their large-cap brethren after a weak showing for most of the day.

Semiconductor names provided support, with Asyst Technologies rising $1.57, or 20%, to $9.37, after Merrill Lynch upgraded the stock to buy from neutral, saying the Fremont, Calif., semiconductor-equipment maker has positioned itself to take advantage of a stronger economy by...